Aerosol inhalating device



Feb. 25, 1969 M. A. .JAI-'FE ET AL AEROSOL INHALATING DEVICE Filed May5, 1966 United States Patent O 3,429,310 AEROSOL INHALATING DEVICEMartin A. Jaffe, Yonkers, N.Y., and Donald E. Llpfert, Woolwich, Maine,assignors to Sterling Drug Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation ofDelaware Filed May 5, 1966, Ser. No. 547,839 U.S. Cl. 12S-173 Int. Cl.A61m 11/00; B67d 5/64; G01f 11/06 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis invention relates to an aerosol inhaling device, and the principalobject of the invention resides in the provision of a self-containeddevice holding an aerosol container wholly therewithin and provided invery simple form in two easily molded plastic parts, one of which,called the base, includes an open-ended tubular inhalant member andmeans for receiving and holding the stem of the valve of the aerosol sothat when the aerosol is moved relatively to the base it will operate toprovide a mist in the inhalant tube; the other member being generallycylindrical and providing a cap for the base and a cap enclosing theaerosol container. The cap is both swivelly and longitudinally movablewith relation to the base without becoming detached therefrom, said capbeing provided with an oifset closure which snaps over the entrance oropening of the inhalant tube to close it and keep it closed, and alsoacting as a stop to prevent any accidental motion of the cap relative tothe base, thus obviating accidental operation of the aerosol as forinstance while it is being carried in pocket or purse. At the same timehowever the cap is very easily released as to its closure at the openingof the inhaling tube and is easily swiveled to expose the opening and atthat time only the cap can -be pressed to move the aerosol relative tothe base to operate the aerosol container.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation, part being broken away;

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the device.

This invention is illustrated as being adapted to provide an operatingenclosure and package means for an aerosol generally indicated at 10.These aerosols are well known in the art and need not be furtherdescribed but each has an operating stem 12 for the usual value thereofso that when the stern 12 is moved in a direction toward the container10, the valve operates to emit the aerosol propelled material axiallytherethrough. In this case the mist enters into a chamber 14 in astem-receiving member 16 which has a shoulder at 18 against which theedge of the stern is stopped, and there is an opening 20 adjacentthereto for the emission of the aerosol propelled material therethrough.When the aerosol material 3,429,319 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 ICC isexpressed through the opening 20, it discharges into a chamber 22.

The chamber 22 is formed in a single one-piece molded plastic memberwhich is designated as the 4base of the device and is indicatedgenerally at 24. This base is open at its top at 26 and it is providedwith a generally radially extending inhalation tube 28 which is open atits end. This base is also provided with a stop ridge or projectingshoulder at 30 which is of annular form for a purpose -to be described.

On the base there is provided a cap generally indicated at 32, this caphaving a closed bottom 34 which may be indented. It houses the aerosol10, the neck of which at 34 extends into the base. The cap is providedwith an inwardly directed annular slot 36 terminating in an annularabutment 38 which is of a size to snap over the ridge or shoulder 30 onthe base because of the slight elastic nature of the plastic which isused to make these members. It will be seen therefore that the cap maybe depressed relative to the base for a short distance depending uponthe position of the terminal shoulder 40 of the slot 36 but at the sametime since the ridges or shoulders are annular, the cap 32 may swivel asabout the axis of the stem holder 16 and of the aerosol.

The cap is provided with an outstanding shelf-like member 42 whichoverlies the top surface of the inhalator tube 28 in close proximitywith respect thereto. This shelf terminates in a closure 44 which isindented as at 46, 46 so that it has a projection extending slightlywithin the opening of the tube 28. This again is a snap action but it iseasy to manually move the closure member 44 out of engagement with theedge or rim of the inhalator tube 28 so that the gap 32 can be swiveledas described above; ybut with the parts in position as shown in FIG. 2,such an action cannot accidently take place, as the parts are latchedtogether. If desired, a slight slot 48 may be utilized to view thecontents of the aerosol, if the same is transparent.

It will be seen that two relatively simple inexpensive molded plasticmembers, i.e., the cap and base, fully enclose the aerosol which cannotbe operated accidentally when the same is carried in pocket or purse,etc., due to the interengaging latch mechanism or means at 44 withrespect to the rim of the inhalation tube opening, but at the same timethe latch is very easily disengaged and the cap swiveled, and then itcan be depressed to operate the aerosol as will be clear. The devicetherefore comprises an enclosing and protective package for the aerosolas well as an actuator therefor, but on the other hand if desired thecap can be manually snapped off from the base so that the aerosol can berenewed if this should -be found to be desirable.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we donot wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise thanas set forth in the claims, but what we claim is:

1. The combination of an aerosol having a stem valve, and an operatingpackage therefor comprising a base and a cap for the base, said baseincluding a generally annular chamber receiving a part of the aerosol,an aerosol stem-receiving member in the base having an opening receivingthe stem of the aerosol, said base having a generally radially extendinginhalation tube which is open-ended, and an open end on the basereceiving the cap, the cap receiving and contacting another part of theaerosol opposite the stem,

means slidably guiding the cap for motion on the base in a directionaxially with respect to the aerosol, a generally radial projection onsaid cap which is substantially flush with a portion of the radiallyextending inhalation tube on the base, said cap being swivelly mountedon the base to selectively position said projection aligned with theinhalation tube or in non-alignment therewith,

said projection providing a stop preventing axial movement of the cap onthe `base when it is aligned with said inhalation tube but allowingaxial movement when non-aligned with relation thereto.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a closure member on saidprojection, said closure member being adapted to close the opening ofthe inhalating tube when the projection is positioned on the inhalatingtube, and to open the same in non-alignment with said inhalating tube.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a closure member on saidprojection, said closure member being adapted to close the opening ofthe inhalating tube when the projection is positioned on the inhalatingtube, and to open the same in non-alignment with said inhalating tube,and interengaging means between said closure member and the edge of theopening in said inhalating tube forming a latch preventing accidentalswivel action References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,940,641 6/ 1960Norrish et al. 239-573 X 3,107,670 10/1963 Silson et al. 12S-1733,258,172 6/1966 Litman 239-579 X 3,272,394 9/1966 Sagarin 222-182WILLIAM E. KAMM, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X,R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION February 25, 1969Patent NQ. 3,429,310

Martin A. Jaffe et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 33 "gap 32" should read cap 32 line 36, "slight" shouldread sight Signed and sealed this 7th day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. SCHUYLER, Commissioner of Patents AttestingOfficer

